Iris Dreaming

Robin Hyde – who was born Iris Wilkinson – was one of the greatest poets in New Zealand. But her eventful life, which took her to war-torn China and to London on the brink of World War Two, was rocked by trauma and crisis.

Now her extraordinary story comes to life in a powerful new work from world-famous composer Dame Gillian Whitehead and the celebrated poet Fleur Adcock.

Specially commissioned by soprano Joanne Roughton-Arnold, this one-woman chamber opera receives its world premiere production at Grimeborn 2016. Sarah Brodie, one of New Zealand’s leading directors and choreographers, teams up with young British conductor Jon Hargreaves and the sparkling virtuosi that make up the Octandre Ensemble.